Sail slide



Jupe 22, 1937.

C. H. DUFFY SAIL SLIDE Filed May 17, 1934 Orr/1945s Hue/v g filgq w Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT caries 7 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment t me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a sail slide for improving the air-flow to the sail.

Heretofore there has been a great loss in the aerodynamic efi'iciency of sails because of the fact that the usual hoops or slides made no provision for closing the opening or space normally existing between the luff or other edge of a sail and its mast or spar, and thereby permitted a break in the continuity of the air-flow to the sail and allowed to be set up at and adjacent such openings or spaces adverse aerodynamic influences which detracted from the efiiciency of the sail.

This improved sail slide has for its inventive purpose to insure underall conditions and positions of a sail, that the luif or otheredge of a sail be snugly maintained in close association with its master. other spar to the end that the usual opening or space between the sail and the mast or spar is closed and the continuity of the air-flow to the sail maintained and its aerodynamic efiiciency increased.

The invention consists of the novel construction of the sail slide and in its provision for attachment to the sail.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the metal blank out of which the slide is formed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another preferred form; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the slide formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the slide formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5'is aside elevation of the slide formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the slide formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the slide formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the slide formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the slide having its bails modified and bent down directly upon the bolt rope;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the slide with sail connecting link connected to oneof the slide bails;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the slide with link connecting the sail, the sail slide and mast assembly being shown in cross section;

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the sail squared off to one side in fuellines and squared off to the opposite side in dotted lines, and v5 Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 12. I

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in which:

A indicates the metal blank of which the slide 10 is formed. 7

In forming the slide I from the blank shown in Fig. 1, in which each vertical side edge is provided with two transverse cuts 2, the two end portions 3 of each vertical side are formed down .15 wardly and inwardly for engagement with a track as shown in Fig. 3, while the central bail portions 4 which are each perforated as at 5 and are formed up vertically from the back of the slide as also shown in Figs. 3 and '7.

In forming the slide I from the blank shown in Fig. 2, the-two vertical edge portions 6 are uninterrupted and are formed downwardly and inwardly into positions shown in Fig. 4, while the two bail portions 4 which are each perforated as at 5 are struck up vertically out of the body of the blank, into position shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

For small light sails and particularly along the foot thereof, the vertical bails d may be made longer and closer together, so that the bolt-rope I l sets snugly between the two bails 4 and closely against the backof the slide l. The bails are then bent directly down and upon each side of the bolt-ropeas shown in Figs. 9 and 10 so that o 35 no other sail attaching means is required.

Referring to Fig. 11, either of the embodiments shown in the Figures 1 to 8 may have permanently attached to one ofthe perforated vertical bails 4 a link i of stout strong wire- The 40 7 central portion 8 of the link is formed arcuately and its free end 9 is bent to be conveniently passed through the eye of a grommet it in the sail I2 andthrough the other of the perforated bails 4, after which the end 9 of the link is bent 45 upwardly and over the bail 4 into an eye'as shown in Fig. 12. This operation brings the boltrope ll of the sail l2 snugly against the back of the slide I, as shown in Fig. 12 thereby closing the space or opening normally existing between In Fig. 14, the assembly is shown in elevation,

and while only a single slide is illustrated, it is of course understood that a series of these slides are applied in closely spaced formationalong the luff of the sail from head to tack, and may also be employed along the foot of the sail from tack V to clew or along the gaff of gaff headed sails, but wherever employed they effectually close up the aerodynamically disadvantageous space or opening normally existing between the sail and its spar.

As will appear from the drawing, the slide may v be employed without the link 8 whenever it is desired to lash or sew the slide to the sail. In

such cases, the bolt-rope lies against the back of the slide as shown in dotted lines'in Figs. 3 to 8, and the lashing or sewing threads are passed through the perforated bails 4 and through the grommet or bolt-rope of the sail.

It is characteristic of the several embodiments of this sail slide shown in the drawing and described in this specification, that there projects downwardlyfrom the body portion of the slide, the necessary track-engaging portions and that there projects upwardly from the body portion of the slide the two upstanding balls 4. This definite constructionof the slide is accomplished by stamping and forming the body, the downwardly projecting track-engaging portions and the upwardly projecting upstanding bails,integral and out of aunitary piece of metal.

It is further characteristic of this sail slide construction that the two upstanding bails lie parallel with the bolt-rope of the sail so as to straddle the bolt-rope and insure that the bolt rope lies snugly against the face of the body of the slide and between the two upstanding bails thereof. It is further characteristic of the sail slide that the upstanding bails are devoid of swinging or pivotal movement with respect to the slide body and its track engaging means.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it may be obvious; to those skilled in the art that the slide may be otherwise constructed than as shown in the three examples in the drawing. Therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the exact constructions shown and described but consider myself clearlyentitled ,to all such changes and modifications as. fall within the limit and scope of the following claims.

being-formed upwardly to provide a vertical bail at each side edge of the slide, a stifi metallic link having 'a central arcuate' portion and ends for connection with each vertical of said bails, each bail including means to connectingly receive the ends of said link, said link being adapted to' be 1 passed through the sail adjacent its bolt-rope t maintain the bolt-rope of the sail between the two vertical bails and snugly against the back of the slide.

2. A slide for attachment to a spar having a track of the character described for slidably connecting a sail and its bolt-rope to the track including vertical side edge portions formed downwardly and inwardly for engagement with the track, a part of each vertical side edge portion being formed upwardly to provide a bail at each vertical side edge of the slide, a link for connection with each of said bails, eachvertical bail including means to connectingly receive the ends of said link, said link being adapted to be passed through the' sail adjacent its bolt-rope to maintain the bolt rope of the sail between the two vertical bails and snugly against the back of the slide.

3. A slide for attachment to a spar having a track of the character described for slidably connecting a sail and its bolt-rope to the track having side edges and including means for connection with the track, a part of each vertical side edge portion of the slide being formed upwardly to provide a vertical bail at each side edge 'of the slide, a link for connectionv'rith each of said vertical bails, each bail including means to con- 4. A slide for attachment to .a spar having a track of the character described for slidably 0on necting a sail and its bolt-rope to the track including vertical side edge portions formed downwardly and inwardly for engagement with the track, a part of the slide adjacent each vertical side. edge thereof being formed upwardly to provide a vertical bail at each side edge of the slide, a stiff metallic link'having a centralarcuate portion and ends for connection with. each of said vertical bails, each bail including means to connectingly receive the ends of said link, said link being adapted to pass through the sail adjacent its boltrope to maintain the bolt-rope of the sail between the two vertical bails and snugly against the back of the slide, the whole characterized bythe fact that the downwardly and upwardly formed vertical side portions for engagement with'the-track are integral with the upwardly formed vertical bails and devoid of any swinging movement with respect thereto.

5. A slide forattachment to a spar having a' track of the characterdescribed for slidably connecting a sail and its bolt-rope to the track includmg vertical side edge portions formed downwardly and inwardly for engagement with the track, a part of the slide adjacent each vertical side edge thereof being formed upwardly to provide a bail vertical at each side edge of the slide, a link for connection with each of said vertical bails, each bail including means to connectingly receive the ends of said link, said link being adapted to be passed through the sail adjacent its bolt-rope to maintain the bolt-rope of the sail between the two vertical bails and snugly against the back of the slide, the whole characterized'by the fact that the downwardly and upwardly formed ver-' 75 V tical side portions for engagement with the track are integral with the upwardly formed vertical bails and devoid of any swinging movement with respect thereto.

6. A slide for attachment to a spar having a track of the character described for slidably connecting a sail and its bolt-rope to the track including means for connection with the track, a part of the slide adjacent each vertical side edge thereof being formed upwardly to provide a vertical bail at each side edge of the slide, a link for connection with each of said vertical bails, each bail including means to connectingly receive the ends of said link, said link being adapted to be passed through the sail adjacent its bolt-rope to maintain the bolt-rope of the sail between the two vertical bails and snugly against the back of the slide, the whole characterized by the fact that the means for connection 20 with the track are integral with the upwardly formed vertical bails and devoid of any swinging movement with respect thereto.

7. A slide for attachment to a spar having a track of the character described for slidably connecting a sail and its bolt-rope to the track including vertical side edge portions formed for connection with the track, a stiff metallic link having a central arcuate portion and ends, the slide including means adjacent each of the Vertical side edges of the slide to connectingly receive the ends of the link, the link being adapted to be passed through a sail adjacent its bolt-rope to maintain the bolt-rope snugly against the back of the slide, the whole characterized by the fact that the vertical side edge portions for connection With the track are integralwith the means for connectingly receiving the ends of the stiff metallic link and devoid of any swinging movement with respect to said means.

CHARLES HUGH DUFFY. 

